Definitely Got Ripped Off by Budget

[baseballmom94]

Here's a warning for those who don't rent cars often: Check your auto insurance coverage and credit card rental car insurance coverage BEFORE you leave home. This is the one mistake I made on our trip last week.

Thought I was so smart and made a reservation with Budget for $129 per week for a mid-size car. Got to the airport and let hubbie sign the papers while I waited with the kids (second mistake!!). The agent told him that the big thing in Florida is rental replacement cost coverage. If you wreck the rental car and it is out of commission while it is being fixed, you're responsible for paying $30 per day up to 30 days. My husband said he did not want the insurance and the agent said "Sir, you'll be the first person that hasn't bought this insurance" which made him nervous. That insurance added $20 per day to our bill!!! I was so mad and said let's call our insurance agent (State Farm) to find out if we need this. Well, of course, we were tired, got to the hotel and forgot all about it.

Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[hockey mom]

Friends just had a horrible experience with Budget also. I had reseved 2 cars for them last month and when they got to the counter Budget would not honor the rate even though they were holding the confirmation papers. It was Daytona week so I guess because everyone else was out of cars they decided they could do this. After much fighting and crying they gave in to another price but asked the rep to break down all insurances they were paying and he had tacked on so many their heads were spinning. In the end they got what was needed only but still paid way more than the quote was. I also had a reservation for my upcoming trip so I e-mailed Budget twice asking for some kind of explantion and no one bothered to follow up so I switched to another company.

 

[seashoreCM]

I'm qyute sure the agent was talking about "loss of use" charges, which most rental agencies do charge in case of accident.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[seashoreCM]

Would not honor the rate...

If you are already back home, (1) write to corporate headquarters, or (with encouragement from your attorney, 2) dispute it on your credit card billl. One advantage of dealing with nationwide name brand companies is that you can deal with them anywhere in the country, even (3) using small claims court in the city nearest you containing one of their offices or agencies.

 

[CarolA]

There really is nothing you can do. A dispute is not likely to come out in your favor since your DH did sign the thing.

On the "out of commission" according to the people at my former employer they can only charge this if they actually LOST money. SO they have to prove that EVERY other car in your class was booked for the time your car was being repaired. (We were self insured). The girl who dealt with this claims that 99.9% of the time when she explained that she would need this proof they backed off and went away.

 

[NotUrsula]

Essentially, all car rental companies will try this at one time or another with anyone who looks susceptible and who is not a frequent-renter member. Dollar has always been the worst of the lot IME, but there is no company that hasn't tried it with me at least once. I don't have so much of a problem with it now as I used to, as I belong to the FR programs at all the majors now, and I use Natl. whenever the quote is at all reasonable.

I always carry two copies of the price quote printout, and I hand one over and say, "I want ONLY what is quoted there. Nothing else." I just keep ruthlessly cutting them off every single time that they start in with "would you like..." or "we recommend ..."
(The extra copy is in case they mysteriously lose the one I handed them.)

It's policy at every major US rental car company that if the class you reserved isn't available, you will be bumped up to the next available class at no extra charge. Of course, when they do this they lose money, and since money is tight for them these days, I've noticed a move toward desperately pushing upgrades. They do this in the hope that you will agree to pay for the bigger car before they have to admit that they don't have your class available.

If you think that it's bad for Americans, it gets worse for foreign tourists. We usually arrive at MCO around the same time that the UK flights start to arrive, and you would not believe the hard sell those agents shift into whenever they hear what they think is a British accent. They do their best to scare those poor people into buying every imaginable option, lest they become helplessly stranded in a foreign country. Honestly, it's downright evil.
(You do have to buy more coverage when you are from another country, but they sell them WAY more than they would ever need.)

 

[hockey mom]

What do you do when the rep says he has no idea where you could have gotten that quote while he is staring at his own logo printed off the web site? In the case of my friends he would not in any circumstances honor the rate.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by hockey mom
What do you do when the rep says he has no idea where you could have gotten that quote while he is staring at his own logo printed off the web site? In the case of my friends he would not in any circumstances honor the rate.

Was the quote 100% legit? Were all coupons and discount codes valid? Was your friend at the counter at the pickup time indicated on the quote?

If so your friend might complain to budget now and then do a credit card dispute when they get the bill.

Your friend will probably be stuck pay for an extra insurance they signed up for.

 

[hockey mom]

We did not use any codes or coupons. They arrived at the counter when the plane landed on time-exact time on the quote. As far as the quote being legit I am not sure what you mean. I plucked all their info into the Budget website, they came up with a quote- friends liked the quote so we printed it off.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by hockey mom
We did not use any codes or coupons. They arrived at the counter when the plane landed on time-exact time on the quote. As far as the quote being legit I am not sure what you mean. I plucked all their info into the Budget website, they came up with a quote- friends liked the quote so we printed it off.

I would suggest you write to Budget's customer service. The address should be on their website.

 

[inkkognito]

I'm hearing people report that "You are the first person who didn't buy this" scam more and more. Surprisingly, I haven't had that one tried on me yet, but my response would be, "You are the first agent who has tried to pull that B.S. on me and it's not going to work, so save your lie for someone else."
With Priceline, they tend to be a lot less aggressive on the insurance pitch, probably because they figure I am a cheapskate, plus the ressie is already paid in advance so they can't dispute the price.
I used Budget once, but although they charge me more than the quote, it was something like 5 cents so I didn't complain!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[maps]

recently alamo tried to not honor a price even though i had the confirmation form in my hand. everything was legit. the lady at the counter refused 3x to honor the rate. i insisted on seeing the manager and wouldn't leave until they honored the rate. they did.

ps--don't ever send your husband to the counter! my husband is so clueless he would end up buying the car by the time they were done with him!

 

[hockey mom]

Gail thanks we did write to Budget and e-mail them to no avail.

The rep refused my friends quote and so she did ask to speak to a manager. She was told one was not available and it was not until she started to get very frustrated and loud did someone in a suit appear from the back. This is the person who told her he had no idea how she got that quote.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by hockey mom
Gail thanks we did write to Budget and e-mail them to no avail.

The rep refused my friends quote and so she did ask to speak to a manager. She was told one was not available and it was not until she started to get very frustrated and loud did someone in a suit appear from the back. This is the person who told her he had no idea how she got that quote.

Your friend might try a credit card dispute. Just say they were overcharged as per the reservation.

 

[hockey mom]

Thanks Lewisc, I didn't know that was an option. Myself I cancelled my reservation because I did not want the same hassle they went through.

 

[XStAnt]

BaseballMom94,

I agree with Gail--write to Budget's customer service IMMEDIATELY. In your letter (not email) mention that you feel they engaged in an "unconscionable business practice" and "consumer fraud" by pressuring you to accept unneeded insurance and creating the impression that everyone needs/purchases the insurance.

Send a copy to you the Orlando Better Business Bureau and, perhaps, the airport operating company.

No guarantee this will help, but these companies don't like to be accused of consumer fraud and unconscionable practices. Those words have certain legal consequences. The copied may help get some action since they never like a bad reputation to get around.

Good luck.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by hockey mom
Thanks Lewisc, I didn't know that was an option. Myself I cancelled my reservation because I did not want the same hassle they went through.

Keep in mind if your friend paid for an upgrade, bought a gas plan or even purchased any of the "extras" a dispute probably won't help.

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
Essentially, all car rental companies will try this at one time or another with anyone who looks susceptible and who is not a frequent-renter member. Dollar has always been the worst of the lot IME, but there is no company that hasn't tried it with me at least once.

Just rented with Dollar this past December, and had no problems whatsoever. Was asked once about the insurance, I declined, signed the form and was on my way, no ifs ands or buts.

Just thought I'd share this.